He was first elected to the Palmerston North City Council in 2010, and was re-elected in 2013.[8] In 2015 he unsuccessfully ran for Mayor, coming second behind Grant Smith.[9] He was re-elected to the City Council in 2016[10] and in 2019 was re-elected as the city's highest polling city councillor.[11] In 2016 he was appointed as deputy mayor.[12]
On 26 July 2020 Utikere was selected as Labour's candidate for the Palmerston North electorate following the announcement that Iain Lees-Galloway would not be standing.[13] During the election campaign he donated his deputy mayor's salary to the city's Mayoral Relief Fund.[14]
In February 2021 a by-election was held to fill his vacant seat on the city council, it was won by Orphée Mickalad.[17]
In July 2021, his Member's Bill requiring all local council elected members to publicly declare their pecuniary interests on a Register, was drawn from the ballot.[18] It was passed into law by Parliament in May 2022.[19]
Having served on Parliament's Governance and Administration and Environment select committees, Utikere became the Chairperson of the Health Select Committee on 4th May 2022.[20] In a January 2023 Cabinet reshuffle, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins appointed Utikere as Chief Government Whip.[21]
Second term, 2023–present
During the 2023 New Zealand general election, Utikere retained the Palmerston North electorate by a margin of 3,087 votes.[22] He became Chief Whip, spokesperson for transport, oceans and fisheries, and associate spokesperson for education (Pacific) in the Shadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins.[23] Following Grant Robertson's announcement that he was retiring from politics Utikere picked up the Racing portfolio.[24]
Tangi Tangi, Odisha Viliami Tangi Tangi Valley John Tangi Tangi Miller Wali Tangi Dam Tangi, Pakistan Tangi Tehsil Tangi Sar Kurram Tangi Dam Sandman Tangi Bahramand Tangi Land Rover Tangi Tangi Ropati Tangi Satyanarayana Tangi Utikere Indrajit Tangi Spin Tangi massacre Yellow-spotted fanray Sundarpur, Khurda Bali Nusra Tangi Faran Tangi Tangi and Bir Dagig massacres Saint Tanguy Tangivar Paul Tangi Mhova Mkondo CTKD: Canda, Tangis, Ketawa, Duka Kensi Tangis Tanguy Malmanche Death of Norman Kirk